Michael knupp



No. 609,5I0. Patented Aug. 23, I898.

M. KNUPP.

THILL COUPLING.

(Application filed Aug, 25, 1897.) N 0 M 0 d e l UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

MICHAEL KNUPP, OF TOLEDO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO S. S.

FREDERICK, OF SAME PLACE. I

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 609,510, dated August-.23, 1898. Application filed August 25 1897. Serial No. ,6 49 ,496. (No model.)

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL KNUPP, of To ledo, in the county of Cumberland and State .of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Thill-Oouplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvementin antirattlin g thill-couplings, and has for its object the production of such a coupling which will permit the ready coupling or uncoupling of the thill and which will prevent the casual displacement of the same and will prevent vibration of the thill within the coupling.

To the accomplishment of this object my invention consists in providing a thill-coupling with a pair of hooks designed to constitute a socket or bearing for the trunnions carried upon the thill-head and a hinge-cap designed to be turned down upon the hook in a manner to absolutely prevent the casual displacement of the thill-head, and, further, in the provision of a spring of novel form designed to retain the cap in its proper position and to prevent the vibration of the head within the coupling.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a general view showing the application of my thillcoupling. Fig. 2 is a perspective View of the coupling detached. 'Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the hinge-cap thrown back to permit the removal of thethill-head, and Fig. 4 is a central longitudinal section taken at one side of the head. 1

Referring to the numerals on the drawings, 1 indicates a suitable strap designed to secure the coupling upon the axle of a vehicle and from which project a pair of parallel hooks 2,

opening upwardly and designed,respectively,

to receive the trunnions 3, projecting from the opposite sides of the thill-head 4, located between the hooks and carried bya socket 5, secured to the end of the thill.

6 indicates what I will term the hingecap, provided with a tailpiece 7, hinged, as by a pintle-S, between the hooks adjacent to the strap 1. The cap-piece corresponds in width with the distance between the-outer edges of the hooks and is designed when turned downthereupon to effectually close thesame for the purpose of preventing the trunnions from passing over the hooks, and thereby causing. the uncoupling of the thills. The cap is bifurcated, as illustrated, and is provided with a depending spring-guard 9, against which the standard 10 of a spring 11 is designed to bear. The spring may be formed in any suitable manner; but, as illustrated, the standard 10 is preferably provided with a head 12, and the spring 11 is bent upwardly from the bottom of the standard, thence outwardly and inparallel relation with said standard, and is provided upon its inner side with a block 13, designed to limit the movement of the spring proper in the direction of the standard 10. a

It will be observed that the head 12 will rest upon the cap and that the spring proper will bear against the thill-head and in this manner prevent vibration of the latter, as the springuard upon the cap will prevent yielding of the standard and will in this manner present a definite resistance to the movement of the spring beyond a predeter mined limit.

14 14 indicate a pair of guarddisks extending from the front end of the cap and designed to lie fiat against the outer sides of the hooks to completely conceal the openings therein and the trunnions carried thereby, the entire coupling when the cap is turned down presenting a neat compact appearance.

It will be observed that when it is desired to uncouple the thill it is simply necessary to swing the cap back upon its pivot, opening the hooks and simultaneously removing the also be seen that there is plenty of room for It will the cap and it does not come in contact with the antirattler. The lower part of the front piece extends down, so that it may be struck by the hammer, thus loosening the antirattler.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a thill-couplin g, the combination with a pair of upwardly-opening hooks designed for the reception of a thill-head provided with trunnions, of a cap comprising a tailpiece pivoted between the hooks, guard-disks projecting from the front end of the cap, and designed to cover the outer sides of the hooks, a springuard, and a spring provided with a head designed to rest upon the top of the cap and having a standard passing between 2. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a pair of upwardly-opening hooks, and a thillhead provided with trunnions carrying said hooks, of a cap comprising a tailpiece pivoted between the hooks, and guard-disks projecting from its front end and designed to cover Witnesses:

SAMUEL S. FREDERICK, WM. KNUPP. 

